US20060222567A1 - Body fluid testing component for simultaneous analyte detection - Google Patents

Abstract

An analyte testing device is provided for use with a mobile processing device having a camera with a lens, a processor for processing an image captured by the lens. The analyte testing device comprises a casing and a test strip positioner. The test strip positioner positions an analyte containing test strip adjacent to the camera lens to permit the camera to capture an image of the analyte containing test strip. A light source is disposed within the casing. The light source is positioned within the casing to illuminate the analyte containing test strip to facilitate the capture of the image of the test strip. Software is contained within the mobile processing device for performing a quantitative analysis of at least one analyte from the captured image, and providing an output of the results of the quantitative analysis.

Description

I. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to methods and devices for testing analysis fluids, and more particularly to a device capable of simultaneously providing quantitative information about multiple test analytes. In a preferred embodiment, the multi-analyte test device can be coupled to or integrated with an existing processing device, such as a personal computer (PC), or a mobile processing device (“MPD”), such as a tablet PC, a mobile telephone, or a personal digital assistant.
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• A. Trends in Healthcare. Traditional healthcare services have been concerned primarily with the treatment of disease. However, it is becoming increasingly recognized by medical professionals that while the treatment of disease will always be an important component of healthcare, the focus of healthcare should shift to the monitoring and maintenance of a person's health prior to and during the onset of a disease. It is believed that healthcare expenses can be reduced, and quality of life can be increased by: (1) monitoring health conditions prior to the onset of a disease, so that the disease can be treated earlier; and (2) convincing people to change their lifestyles in ways that reduce the likelihood of disease occurring.
• Several medical conditions exist where the monitoring of levels of particular analytes in a person's blood stream are important. For example, the level of analytes such as cholesterol, glucose, and lactate are important parameters to monitor to gain an understanding of the person's over-all health condition, and to provide vehicles for early intervention, when appropriate, to help treat disease conditions early after their onset.
• B. Glucose Monitoring and Diabetes. In the year 2000, 3.2 million people died from diabetes. A key to treating diabetes is maintaining appropriate glucose levels in the patient. Tight glucose control in a form of self-monitoring the blood glucose (SMBG) is considered to be the standard of care for diabetes management and treatment.
• C. Atherosclerosis and Cholesterol Levels. Coronary Artery Disease (“CAD”) caused by atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death in the Western world, and is predicted to be the leading cause of death in the developing world before 2025. In the U.S., over 50 million people are candidates for drug and/or dietary treatment to modify the profiles of their lipids, such as their “good” and “bad” cholesterol. However, such treatments are enhanced if cholesterol levels are monitored.
• D. Sports Medicine and Blood Lactate Levels. A growing interest has developed in recent years in measuring blood lactate levels, since blood lactate serves as a marker of anaerobic glucose metabolism in over-trained muscles. Lactate levels are now routinely monitored by most professional and many serious amateur runners, bicyclists, and swimmers, along with people participating in many fitness and wellness programs.
• E. Products Available for Monitoring Glucose Levels. A wide variety of products exist currently, that are useable by the consumer to monitor glucose levels. Currently products are available from Roche Diagnostics (ACCU-CHEK® products); Bayer® (ASCENSIA-brand products); Therasense® (Free-Style® brand products); and Lifescan® (ONE-TOUCH® brand products).
• Typically, these products consist of stand-alone meters that are used in connection with a blood test strip. To operate these meters, one employs a lancet device that punctures a tiny hole in a high-blood flow body part, such as a finger tip. A drop of blood is harvested from the hole, and placed onto a test strip. On the test strip, the cellular components (e.g. red and white blood cells) of the blood are separated from the plasma component. The plasma component may be reacted with one or more reagents that are embedded on this strip, to cause the reagents to undergo a chemical reaction, and form a reaction product. With many strips, the reaction product is colored. The color can be correlated to the level of glucose in the sample. The test strip is then “read” by the meter, usually by reflectance photometry.
• F. Products Available for Monitoring Cholesterol Levels. Several home devices also exist for measuring blood cholesterol levels. Some of these devices are operated similarly to the blood glucose level testing devices described above. Examples of these include the Cardio Chek® and Cardio Chek® professional devices, and the Life Stream®, Three Minute Cholesterol Monitor.
• An alternative test methodology is illustrated with the CholesTrac home cholesterol test.
• The CholesTrac test is a manual system that does not employ an electronic meter. Rather, the person using CholesTrac device visually compares the “color” of the reacted test analyte with a colorant-containing result chart to determine the cholesterol level.
• G. Products Available for Monitoring Lactate Levels. Lactate measuring devices also exist that are similar to the blood glucose and cholesterol meter devices described above. Examples of these include the ACCU-TREND® Lactate and ACCUR-SPORT® portable analyzer, along with the Lactate Probe brand portable lactate analyzer. The devices operate similarly to the glucose and cholesterol meters, as a drop of blood is placed on a reagent containing test strip, which is then inserted into a meter.
• H. Blood Testing Devices Invented by the Applicants and Their Colleagues. The Applicants, along with their colleagues have invented several devices that can be used in blood testing. These devices include the capillary test strip to separate particulates shown in Hans G. Kloepfer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,696,240 (24 Feb. 2004); the Consolidated Body Fluid Testing Device and Method shown in Hans G. Kloepfer et al., U.S. Patent No. 2003/0109777 (12 Jun. 2003); and Hans G. Kloepfer et al., Method and Apparatus for Analyzing an Analysis Fluid, U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2006/0034728, published 16 Feb. 2006. See also Mary G. Kloepfer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,764 (28 Nov. 1989).
• The Kloepfer et al., '240 patent relates to a capillary strip that is used to separate particulates from whole blood. The Kloepfer device performs the separation of particulate matter from plasma by employing a gradient of capillary force to move the cell and plasma containing blood sample from a sampling portion wherein the blood is deposited on the strip, to a reagent containing testing site. After the blood has reached the reagent containing test site, the cellular components are removed, with only the reacting plasma remaining.
• The Kloepfer et al., '777 publication discloses a device that includes all of the disposable blood testing components required to perform a blood test incorporated into a single, easy-to-manufacture unitary component that can be manufactured inexpensively enough to make single use and disposal economically viable. The Kloepfer consolidated testing device includes a unitary body that carries a disinfectant containing swab, a calibratable and moveable lancet, a blood-flow enhancement device, and a test strip.
• The Kloepfer '292 application discloses a meter for use in connection with the consolidated body fluid testing device (test wand) disclosed in the '777 Kloepfer Publication. In addition to disclosing an inventive meter, the Kloepfer '728 Publication also discloses improvements in the test wand that facilitate its use with the meter.
• Many of the improvements the Applicants and their colleagues have made to test strips and test wands make them more useful for performing blood tests from very small blood samples. Additionally, a transparent test strip is used with the testing wand to permit the meter to detect blood through transmittance photometry or reflectance photometry, rather than being limited to the reflectance photometric methods used with current meters.
• The meter disclosed in the Kloepfer et al., '728 Publication has many features in common with other meters, as it includes the common components of: (1) a receptacle for receiving a test strip; (2) a photometry system, including a light source and receiver for performing a photometric analysis of a reagent-reacted blood samples to quantitatively determine the amount of a particular analyte of interest; (3) a processor within the meter to process the results obtained by the photometric analysis to arrive at a quantitative value for the analyte of interest; and (4) a display for displaying the test results to the user.
• In summary, the three above-described Kloepfer references disclose an improved test strip and metering system that is believed by the Applicants to be more convenient to use than known systems, and that is capable of being used with smaller samples than known devices. Nonetheless, room for improvement still exists.
• For example, improvements can be made to the meter. Currently, most meters employed for measuring blood analytes are single analyte meters that are useful only for performing the particular test for which they are designed. Current meters could be improved by providing a single meter that is capable of performing a test simultaneously on a variety of analytes. A particularly welcome improvement would be to provide a test strip and metering system that was capable of performing these tests from a single blood sample.
• One short coming of current meters is that since the single analyte meters are “stand alone” meters, they require their own processing circuitry and/or software to perform many of their functions. Therefore, an improvement to this current situation would be to provide a meter that is capable of utilizing the processing capability of a device, such as a mobile phone, that most potential users already possess, and that contains the processing capability for performing many of the processing tasks currently performed by the meter, to thereby enable the user to reduce the number of devices that he must carry with him. Additionally, adding the meter components to the mobile device should be less expensive than the cost of manufacturing two separate devices.
• Another area for potential improvement is to provide the meters with the ability to communicate results to others, to a health provider, or to the user's own computer for later retrieval and storage.
• It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved blood testing system, that incorporates one or several of the improvements discussed above.
III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In accordance with the present invention, an analyte testing device is disclosed for use with a mobile processing device having a camera with a lens, and a processor for processing an image captured by the camera. The analyte testing device comprises a casing and a test strip positioner. The test strip positioner positions an analyte containing test strip adjacent to the camera lens to permit the camera to capture an image of the analyte containing test strip. A light source is disposed within the casing. A light is positioned within the casing to illuminate the analyte containing test strip to facilitate the capture of the image of the test strip.
• Processing software is provided for performing a quantitative analysis of at least one analyte from the captured image, and providing an output of the results of the quantitative analysis.
• Preferably, transmission software is also provided for transmitting at least one of the captured images and quantitative analysis to the remote receiver.
• In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the analyte containing test strip includes an analyte receiving portion upon which an analyte resides that has undergone a separation and a reaction with a reagent. The camera captures an image of the analyte receiving portion. The analyte receiving portion can include a first analyte receiving portion containing a first analyte having undergone a first reaction with a first reagent, and a second analyte receiving portion containing a second analyte having undergone a second reaction with a second reagent. The camera is positioned to capture an image of the each of the first and second analyte portions, and the software within the mobile processing device is capable of performing a quantitative analysis on each of the first and second analytes.
• Also, the casing is preferably movably coupled to the mobile processing device between a testing position and a non-testing position. In the testing position, the camera lens is aligned with a test strip portion to permit the camera to capture an image of the test strip.
• In the non-testing position, the camera lens can capture an image without interference from the casing, but during which time, the casing remains coupled to the mobile processing device. In the most preferred embodiment, the mobile processing device comprises a mobile communications device, such as a cell phone; and the casing is hingedly coupled to the mobile communications device to move between the testing and non-testing position. Additionally, the casing can include a cavity for storing a plurality of test strips therein.
• The analyte testing device can either take the form of an external device that includes a plug for being coupled to a data port of the mobile processing device; or alternately, can be an internal device that is encased within the housing of the mobile communication device, and that is “hard wired” to the processor of the PD.
• Preferably, the device includes a test strip port for receiving a test strip on which the analyte of interest is contained. A light emitting device is provided for either illuminating the test field on which the analyte is contained, or alternately, for projecting light onto the test field. A miniaturized, digital camera, having a lens and image sensors is provided for either receiving the transmitted light, or alternately photographing the illuminated, analyte-containing test field. The digital camera can either comprise a “still” or motion picture type camera. A motion picture type “video” camera would have the advantage of permitting the user to evaluate the process of the reaction and the kinetics of the test procedure.
• In a preferred embodiment, the digital information received by the miniaturized digital camera is then directed to a processor for processing. The processor can comprise a processing unit contained within the analyte testing device. Alternately, the processor of the mobile processing device can be employed to process the information. The mobile processing device's display is then employed to display an output from the processor in a human readable form, so that the user may read the information contained on the display to obtain a measurement of the analyte of interest.
• The test strip can be designed to permit the measurement of a plurality of analytes simultaneously. Illustratively, a first reagent can be provided for enabling the user to determine cholesterol level; a second reagent provided for enabling the user to determine blood glucose levels; and a third reagent provided to enable the user to determine blood lactate levels.
• The test strip and digital camera can be designed to enable the miniaturized digital camera to receive photometric information about each of the plurality of reagents discreetly, so that the output of the digital camera can provide discreet information to the processor about each of the analytes of interest, thus enabling the processor to provide discreet measurements for each of the three analytes without interference from the presence of the other analytes on the test strip.
• One feature of the present invention is that the test strip can be designed to employ a plurality of test strip fields where each test strip field contains a reagent that is capable of reacting with a different analyte of interest to provide a colorimetric reaction product, whose color and intensity can be correlated with the quantity of the analyte in the test fluid. Preferably, these plurality of test fields and test results can be obtained through the application of a single “micro” fluid sample, of about one to two microlitres placed on a single test strip.
• This feature has the advantage of enabling the user to employ a test strip to test for a variety of analytes.
• This multiple test field approach has several advantages. One advantage is that the user can test for a plurality of analytes using a single test strip and a single meter. To Applicants' knowledge, consumer-useable blood testing devices currently in use are single analyte devices, that are capable of testing only for a single analyte. As such, if the user wishes to test for three analytes, he must purchase three separate test strips, and three separate meters.
• Another important advantage resides in the ability of the user to test for these plurality of samples by using only a very small blood sample. One draw back to patients who are performing self tests is the need to obtain blood samples. To obtain a blood sample, a user is required to pierce a body part, such as a fingertip with a lancet. The blood that bleeds from the tiny puncture hole is then placed onto a test strip. With the current invention, the user need only make one stick in one tissue site, and only obtain one blood sample, to test for multiple analytes, thus reducing the potential number of times the user must stick himself.
• Another feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the testing device can be designed to be coupled to an existing mobile processing device such as a mobile communications device. This feature has the advantage of reducing the number of devices that a user must purchase and carry around with him.
• At the time of the writing of this application, mobile processing devices have become ubiquitous. Mobile processing devices can comprise a wide variety of currently known products such as PDAs, cell phones, MP3 players, lap top computers and the like.
• Cell phones are especially ubiquitous. A large plurality of the adult population in developed countries carry cell phones. Although small in size, cell phones contain a large amount of processing capability. Some cell phones, such as the Palm Treo 600 andTreo 300 mobile phones contain a very large amount of processing capability, as the Treo models are personal digital assistants that include mobile telephone capabilities. With the large amount of processing capacity available in a device that is already carried by most people, it seems somewhat wasteful to purchase a separate meter that contains its own processing system.
• To reduce this duplication, the device of the present invention employs the processing capability of the cell phone (or other mobile processing device). By making the testing device coupleable to a mobile phone, the user can carry around only a single device (his mobile phone), rather than two or more devices, such as a mobile phone and testing meter. Additionally, by obviating the need for separate processing hardware and software for the meter (as the phone's processing hardware and software can be used), the meter can likely be manufactured less expensively, thus reducing the cost to the end user.
• A further advantage provided by the use of a mobile processing device that includes a communication capability is that it permits the user to communicate his test results with others. For example, the user can use the mobile phone to transmit his test results to a healthcare provider who can then monitor the patient's test results, and thereby monitor the patient's health. Additionally, the results can be transmitted from the mobile phone to a user's computer, to enable the user to employ his computer's large memory capability to archive his test results. The transmission can take the form of a text message, or graphic display, and can be forwarded as an e-mail type message.
• A further feature of the present invention is that the test device is designed to use reagents that produce calorimetric reactions. This use of calorimetric reagents has several advantages. One advantage is that the colorimetric reagents, when used on a clear test field, permit the use of transmittance photometry to measure the color produced in the reaction product to thereby quantify the amount of the analyte of interest in the test samples.
• Another advantage obtained through the use of a colorimetric measurement is that it permits the user to visually see the results, thereby permitting the user to make a visual reliability check on the accuracy of the device.
• A further advantage obtained by the colorimetric reaction is that it provides a color-containing image of which a photograph can be taken by a miniaturized digital camera contained within the device. This digital image can be used for archival purposes. Alternately, the digital information contained from the digital “photograph” can be employed as the information that is processed by the processor of the mobile processing device to obtain the quantitative analysis of the analyte of interest.
• These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the drawings and detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention provided herein that represent the best mode of practicing the invention perceived presently by the Applicants.
III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of the body fluid testing system of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a top view of the system;
• FIG. 3 is an enlarged, top view of the system;
• FIG. 4 is an enlarged, perspective view, partly broken away, of a test strip containing test wand useable with the present invention;
• FIG. 5 is a top view of the system of the present invention showing a plurality of test wands coupled thereto;
• FIG. 6 is a top, greatly enlarged schematic view of a test strip useable with a test wand of the present invention;
• FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the test strip, light source, and digital camera components of the present invention;
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view, with the case of the meter component testing system partly broken away;
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view, with a case of the meter component testing system removed;
• FIG. 10 is an enlarged, somewhat schematic top view, showing a test wand inserted into a strip receiver of the test system of the present invention;
• FIG. 11 is another top view, partly broken away of the present invention;
• FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment device;
• FIG. 13 is a top, exploded view showing an alternate embodiment device useable with an alternate embodiment MPD, and a test wand;
• FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of the present invention showing a device with a two-part clamshell like case;
• FIG. 15 is a front view of the device;
• FIG. 16 is a side view of the device showing the case in its open position;
• FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the device showing the case in an open position;
• FIG. 18 is another perspective view, showing the case in an open position from a different view point;
• FIG. 19 is a side view, partly in section of the device showing the case in the closed position;
• FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the device and a test one of the present invention;
• FIG. 21 is a front perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the present invention that employs an optical path diameter that permits an image of a test strip to be captured, even though the test strip positioner positions the test strip out of the normal optical path of the camera lens;
• FIG. 22 is a front perspective view of the embodiment ofFIG. 21 wherein the camera face is “closed” to hide the number buttons; and
• FIG. 23 is a side, schematic view of the alternate embodiment shown inFIG. 21.
IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• A bodyfluid testing system8 of the present invention is shown in the figures, as being comprised of three primary components. These three components include a body fluid testinganalytic unit10, that is capable of being operatively coupled to mobile processing device, and preferably a mobile communications device, here shown as amobile telephone12. The third primary component is a test strip containingtest wand14 that is similar or identical to the ones disclosed in the Kloepfer et al., '777 Publication, and/or the Kloepfer et al., '728 publication, and which includes a test strip similar to the ones disclosed in the Kloepfer '240 patent. The disclosures of these two applications and patent are hereby incorporated by reference into this application.
• The most common mobile processing device with which thesystem8 will likely be used are mobile communications devices such as mobile phones. Thesystem8 will likely be used withmobile phones12 because mobile phone currently have three attributes that contribute to-the viability of the present invention. The first attribute is that they generally have fairly robust processors that, through programming (such as by loading software into them), can be made to be capable of processing information received from theanalytic unit10 to create a user-readable output. Some mobile phones currently in use contain a very high level of processing capability, and are currently both capable of being programmed, and performing functions far beyond the typical conversation transmission functions performed by cellular phones. For example, thePalm& TreoS 300, and 600 models comprise personal data assistants, that also include a mobile phone component.
• The recently released Palm Treo 700 W has special utility as it is capable of running Microsoft® Windows® mobile applications. Devices such as the Palm Treo 600, 650 and 700 also are equipped with a significant amount of memory, e.g. 64 meg, that can be expanded drastically through the addition of a flash memory card into the already-existing socket provided for receiving same.
• Personal data assistants have many of the same functionalities as computers, possessing the ability to run programs, display information, perform calculations and the like. Additionally, other currently existing cell phones have camera capabilities, and thereby the processing capability to process digital picture information, along with the ability to transmit that digital picture information.
• Themobile phone12 includes ahousing18 that encases the electronic components of themobile phone12. Thehousing18 includes afront surface20, afirst side surface22, andsecond side surface24, a first (top)end surface26, and a second (bottom)end surface28. Thefront surface20 includes a plurality (usually twelve) ofnumber buttons32, that the user presses for dialing a phone number, and a plurality offunction buttons34 that the user may push in some predetermined sequence to access and perform the various functions of which thephone12 is capable of performing. A main function button that can be designed to be anavigator button36 is disposed between thefunction buttons34 of the device shown in the drawing.
• An LCD display30 is also disposed on thefront surface20, and is capable of displaying a significant amount of information. In mobile phone/PDAs, the LCD displays can be quite large (e.g. four square inches), and be capable of displaying a significant amount of information. Optionally, theLCD display38 may comprise a touch screen that aids the user in navigating through menus and performing the various functions of which thephone12 is capable. Although not necessary with the present device, a touch-screen type LCD38 is preferably used, as it facilitates the operation of the device by the user.
• Adata transfer port42 is disposed on thebottom end surface28. A wide variety of data transfer ports exist for use in connection with current PDs. Many of the ports are used not only for transferring data between the device and another device (such as a computer), but are also used to carry voltage and current into the device to recharge the batteries of themobile phone12.
• The testing device/analytic unit10 includes acase46, that includes acradle portion48 and a component-containinglower portion50. Thecradle portion48 is designed to grip and hold themobile phone12 to couple theanalytic unit10 to thephone12. Thecasing46 is preferably made from a plastic material and may be constructed as a “clamshell” having two halves connected with a living hinge. The edges of the casing can then be either permanently bonded together through sonic welding (after the components are inserted), or can be held together with a removable fastener such as screws, so that the user may separate the two casing halves, if necessary, to perform servicing of the electronic components contained therein.
• Thecradle portion48 includes arear support member52 that is placeable adjacent to the rear surface of the housing of thephone12; a firstside support member54 that is provided for gripping thefirst side surface22 of thehousing18 of thephone12; and asecond side support56 for gripping thesecond side surface28 of thehousing18 of thephone12. Each of the first and second side supports54,56 can include a longitudinally extendingclip rail58. As is best shown inFIG. 3,clip rail58 is provided for enabling a corresponding clip on thetest wands14A-14D to grip theclip rail58. Through this ability of thetest wand14 to grip on to theclip rail58, the user can carry around a plurality oftest wands14A-14D on his mobile phones This ability to carry a plurality oftest wands14A-14D is important to persons who are either traveling and must carryseveral test wands14 with them, or those who must test their blood multiple times on a daily basis.
• Thecomponent containing portion50 of theanalytic unit10 includes an upper surface containing a plurality of operation buttons, includingfunction button70, and a main ornavigator button72. By pressing one or a combination of thefunction70 andnavigator72 buttons, the user can direct the operation of the device. Thecasing46 of theanalytic unit10 also includes a phone engagingfirst end surface74 that is designed for engaging thebottom end surface28 of thephone12. An axially extendingplug76 extends axially outwardly from the phone engagingfirst end surface74 and is designed and configured to engage thedata port42 of thephone12. Thecasing46 also includes a wand engagingsecond end surface80 that includes a testwand receiving port82.
• Testwand receiving port82 is sized and configured for receiving and appropriately positioning the test strip84 (FIG. 4) that is coupled to atest strip holder86 that is formed as a part of thetest wand14. The testwand receiving port82 serves as a test strip positioner that is designed to receive atest strip84 in a proper orientation, to help ensure that thetest strip84 is inserted properly into themeter12. Thetest strip84 is properly oriented into theanalytic unit10 when a major plane of thetest strip84 is generally perpendicular to the plane of theupper surface68 of themeter10, so that the camera of the device can capture an image of the analyte containing portion of thetest strip84.
• As best shown inFIG. 4, thetest strip84 is disposed at the end of atest wand14, and includes an analyte receiving portion for receiving an appropriately separated body fluid that has reacted with an appropriate reagent. However, ahinge90 hingedly couples apressure cup88 to the same end of thetest wand14, so that when not in use, thepressure cup88 can cover the end of thetest strip84 to prevent contamination or destruction of thetest strip84. The manner in which thepressure cup88 is used, and thetest wand14 is constructed, is discussed in more detail in the Kloepfer '777 and '728 publications.
• As is best shown inFIGS. 8-11, the components of themeter12 include a printedcircuit board100 that both serves as a base upon which other components are placed, and also as a communication platform to enable electronic communication between the various components. A strip take-upunit102 is disposed centrally on the printedcircuit board100, and is provided for receiving and properly orienting thetest strip84.
• The strip take-upunit102 includes anaxially extending passageway104, that receives the take-uptest strip84 and a portion of thetest strip holder86. Theaxially extending passageway104 is configured to have a vertical slot portion for properly orienting thetest strip84 within thetest strip unit102, so that thetest strip84 will be well positioned for the passage of light therethrough, to perform the test performed by the meter. Preferably, the major plane of thetest strip84 is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel of the light path.
• A laterally extendingpassageway108 is also provided. The laterally extendingpassageway108 extends generally perpendicular to theaxially extending passageway104, and intersects theaxially extending passageway104, so that the twopassageways104,108 are in communication with each other. The primary purpose of the laterally extendingpassageway108 is to provide a passageway for the light waves traveling alonglight path122, which light waves are emitted by the light source, such asLED114, and are received by thedigital camera124.
• The light source component of theanalytic unit10 includes lightsource control circuitry112 that is provided for controlling the operation of thelight source114. As discussed above, thelight source114 preferably comprises an LED-type light. The LEDlight source114 emits beams of light that travel through a spread glass orplate120 disposed in the laterally extendingpassageway104 for ensuring a uniform light distribution across thetest strip84.
• A miniaturizeddigital camera124 is provided for recording a digital image of the reagent reaction products on thetest strip84. Thedigital camera124 includes an objective, such aslens126, and an image sensor for receiving the signals, along with signal processing software for processing signals into a digital picture. The image recorded by the digital camera can be a “picture”, or can be signals representative of the light intensity, light wave length (“color”), or other parameter useful for measuring the concentration of the analyte of interest within the reagent reaction product on the analyte receiving portion of thetest strip84.
• Similar to most digital cameras, thedigital camera124 of the present invention will likely employ charge-coupled devices (CCDs) for capturing the image of the test strip. A CCD is a sensor for recording images that is in digital photography and astronomy, and consists of an integrated circuit containing an array of linked, or coupled, capacitors. Under the control of an external circuit, each capacitor can transfer its electric charge to one or other of its neighbors.
• Digital color cameras generally use a Bayer mask over the CCD. Each square of four pixels has one filtered red, one blue, and two green (the human eye is more sensitive to green than either red or blue). The result of this is that luminance information is collected at every pixel, but the color resolution is lower than the luminance resolution. Better color separation can be reached by three-CCD devices (3CCD) and a dichroic beam splitter prism, that splits the image into red, green and blue components. Each of the three CCDs is arranged to respond to a particular color. Some semi-professional digital video camcorders (and all professionals) use this technique.
• Thedevice8 shown in the figures can operate through a transmissive mode, where the light transmitted by theLED114 is transmitted in a straight line through the test strip to thevideo receptor130 of thedigital camera124. Alternately, the device can be designed to operate in a reflectance type mode, wherein the LED light source, test strips, and video receptor form an angled light path so that the video receptor (lens) captures an image of light emitted from the light source that is reflected off a surface of the test strip.
• One of the important attributes of the light114 andcamera124 used in theanalytic unit10, is that they provide a controlled light environment within the casing wherein a reproduceable and sufficient amount of light is shined upon thetest strip84. By containing the light114 andcamera124 components within a casing, interference from outside light sources, such as lights within a room, the sun, etc., can be eliminated, thus helping to bolster the reproducibility and accuracy of the tests performed by the device.
• Turning now toFIGS. 6 and 7, thetest strip84 includes asubstrate member138 having anupper surface140, in which a sample travel path is formed. The sample travel path includes asample receiving area142, that is sized and positioned for receiving a drop of body fluid, such as blood, from the patient. As described in more detail in the Kloepfer et al. references described above, a capillary channel146 is provided for separating the plasma component of the blood from the cellular components such as the red and white blood cells. The cells must normally be separated from the blood in order to obtain an appropriate calorimetric reaction that does not contain interfering colors caused with the colored components of the blood, such as the red and white blood cells.
• The capillary channel includes atesting area150 which comprises ananalyte receiving portion150 upon which reagent strips154,156,158 are placed, and anexcess collection area148 that is disposed downstream of theanalyte receiving portion150 for collecting excess fluids, to ensure that only a proper quantity of fluid remains in theanalyte receiving portion150. As alluded to in this description, a sample of blood is placed in asample collection area142, and flows in a direction designated by arrow BF, through thecapillary portion144, where the cellular components are retained. In the testing area, the plasma fluid reacts with the reagents placed onreagent strips154,156,158.
• The first154, second156 and third158 reagent strips each may contain a different reagent for testing a different analyte of interest. For example, thefirst reagent154 can be a reagent designed to elicit a quantitative colorimetric reaction from a first analyte of interest, such as blood glucose level. Similarly, thesecond reagent156 can be a reagent designed to detect the presence of a second analyte of interest, such as blood cholesterol, and the third reagent can be designed for detecting a third analyte of interest such as blood lactate levels.
• Alternately, each of the first, second and third reagent strips154,156,158 respectively, can be the same reagent for determining the same analyte of interest. In this case, three reagent strips may be used to provide back ups to each other, or else permit the user to average the values determined by the colorimetric reaction produced by each of the three reagents.
• Although thetest strip84 is shown as having a first, second and third154,156,158 reagent strips, it will also be appreciated that more than three or less than three reagent strips can be used, to test a greater or lesser number of analytes of interest. Surprisingly, the Applicants have found that the width of the reagent strip can be reduced to about 1 mm., while still providing a sufficient area so that the digital camera or other sensor will be able to pick up enough appropriate information to provide reliable test strips.
• It should also be noted that although the reagents are currently shown as being “reagent strips”154,156,158, the shape and dimension of the reagent placements can vary. For example, the reagents' “strips” can be replaced by a plurality of reagent “dots”.
• An alternate embodimentblood testing system200 is shown inFIGS. 12 and 13.Testing system200 is virtually identical totesting system10. The main difference between the two is that theblood testing device204, has a different shaped casing, and different shapeddata port plug210, to better fit the particular model ofmobile phone202 shown in the drawings. It will also be noted that the casing of thetesting device204 does not include the side rail structures or back support structure of the casing shown inFIGS. 1-11.
• The blood testing device (analytic unit)204 includes atop surface208, that may or may not include a series of function buttons. The function buttons can be eliminated if the device is designed so that the act of connecting theplug210 to thedata receiving port212 activates thephone202 to recognize theanalytic unit204, and to display operational information on the LCD screen. In such case, the operation of theanalytic unit204 is controlled by thenumber button216 andfunction buttons218 of the cell phone. Theblood test device202 also includes awand receiving port214 to receive thetest strip84 oftest wand14.
• A second alternate embodiment clamshell—typeblood testing device300 is shown inFIG. 14-20. Thetesting device300 includes aphone portion302 and ananalytic unit portion304. Thephone portion302 is hingedly coupled to thecasing305 of theanalytic unit portion304 by ahinge306.
• Thephone portion302 is generally similar to the mobile phones discussed above, as it includes afront surface307 having anLCD display310 thereon. Thephone302 also includes a plurality ofnumber buttons312 and one ormore function buttons314, which serve the same purposes as in the embodiments discussed above. Thephone portion302 also includes arear surface316. One element contained onphone portion302, which is not described with respect to the phones discussed above is acamera lens320 that is contained on therear surface316. Thecamera lens316 is of a type similar to those existing currently on camera containing mobile phones. Thelens320 and built-in digital camera contained within thephone302 are used on currently existing phones to enable the phone owner to use the cell phone user to take photographs of friends, and whatever else she may desire.
• One of the unique features of the embodiment of thedevice300 shown inFIGS. 14-20, is that thelens320 and camera contained within thephone302 are also usable by a body fluid test system for taking a “picture” of the analyte-containing test strip, to measure one or more analytes of interest that have been tested on the test strip.
• As is best shown inFIG. 19, thelens320 focuses light onto aphoto receptor322 contained within the interior of thephone portion302. Thephoto receptor322 is coupled toimage processing circuitry324 that is capable of processing the digital image received by thephoto receptor322. As is discussed in more detail in connection with the embodiments described above, the “processing” component of thephone302 can comprise separate circuitry, or rely on the camera's or phone's already existing circuitry. Additionally, the processor of thephone302 can include software that is runs on the processor of thephone302 that can be specifically adapted for performing the analyte test of the present invention.
• As best shown inFIGS. 17 and 18, thephone portion case302 includes alip332 that is capable of engaging alip330 of the analyticunit portion case304, so that the two portions can be placed a “closed” or “testing” position, as is shown inFIGS. 14, 19, and20. A latch member (not shown) and release button (not shown) can be employed to respectively latch the twoportions302,304 together, and release the engagement between the twoportions302,304. When the release button is actuated to release the latch member, thephone portion302 andanalytic unit portion304 can be moved abouthinge306 into an “open” or “non-testing” position, similar to that shown inFIGS. 16, 17 and18. When the casing is in the non-testing or open position, thecamera lens320 becomes unobstructed by theanalytic unit portion304casing305, thus enabling the camera to take a picture without interference from the casing. In such a position, for example, a picture of a friend can be taken without the casing becoming a part of the picture.
• Theanalytic unit portion304casing305 includes a generally hollow interior338, a portion of which defines awand storage compartment340. As is shown inFIG. 17, a plurality ofwands14 can be stored in thewand storage compartment340, to be ready for use when the user so desires.
• An objective342 that includes alight output aperture344, alight source346 and atest strip holder348 is disposed within the hollow interior338. Thelight output aperture344 is positioned to be in an opposed relationship to thelens320, so that the axis of thelight output aperture344 is colinear with the axis of thelens320 of the digital camera within thephone302 when thedevice300 is in its closed position.
• The device also includes atest strip holder348 which positions a test strip (e.g.84) properly in the light path LP when atest wand14 containing a test strip is inserted into the testwand receiving port350 that is formed on a side surface of themeter portion case304. As is best shown inFIG. 19, thelight source346, which may be an LED, shines the light upwardly through a test strip held within thetest strip holder348. This projects the image of the color formed by the analyte reaction products on the strip through thelight output aperture344, throughlens320, and onto thephoto receptor322 of the digital camera contained within thephone302. This information is then processed by the phone's circuitry and software, into information that ultimately takes the form of information relating to the existence or quantity of the analyte of interest. This information is displayed on theLCD screen310 of thephone portion302. The information, along with the image, can also be saved as a file which can then be sent, as an e-mail or “test message” to another device, such as a computer used by a healthcare provider.
• A third alternate embodimentanalyte testing device400 is shown inFIGS. 21-23. Thetesting device400 includes aphone portion402 and ananalytic unit portion404. Thephone portion402 is coupled to thecasing405 of theanalytic unit portion404.
• Thephone portion402 is generally similar to the mobile phones discussed above, as it includes afront surface407 having anLCD display410 thereon. Thephone402 also includes a plurality ofnumber buttons412 and one ormore function buttons414, which serve the same purposes as in the embodiments discussed above. Thephone portion402 also includes arear surface416. Similar tophone portion302,phone portion402 includes acamera lens420 that is contained on therear surface416. Thecamera lens420 is of a type similar to those existing currently on camera containing mobile phones. Thelens420 and built-in digital camera contained within thephone402 are used on currently existing phones to enable the phone owner to use the cell phone user to take photographs of friends, and whatever else she may desire.
• Similar also tophone302, thelens420 and camera contained within thephone402 are also usable by a body fluid test system for taking a “picture” of the analyte-containingtest strip421, to measure one or more analytes of interest that have been tested on the test strip.
• Another difference betweendevice400 anddevice300, is thatdevice400 includes anoptical unit422, that includes atest positioner424, that places thetest strip421 in a position that is out of the normal optical path. As will be appreciated, the normal optical path of a lens is the area directly in front of a lens. Theoptical unit422 includes an optical path diverter426 for diverting thelight path436 totest strip421. The optical path diverter426 includes afirst mirror428 disposed at a 45° angle to the light path for reflecting light at a 90° angle, from a generally “vertically” directed path (as shown inFIG. 23) to a “horizontally” directed path, that enables the light path to pass through thecamera lens420. Additionally, the optical path diverter426 includes a first lens, for focusing the light path and the image shown therethrough.
• Theoptical unit422 of theanalytic unit404 includes alight source434, such as an LED, that emits the light along alight path436. The light passes through thetest strip421 that is held in thetest strip positioner424. Light emerging from the test strip421 (that is passed therethrough) passes through alens430, where it is focused. Thelight path436 continues to extend to reflectingmirror428, where the light path is reflected at a 90 degree angle, so that the light can pass through thelens420 of the camera. Light that passes through thelens420 is captured by theCCD chip440 of the digital camera. The image so captured is then conducted to aprocessor442.
• Theprocessor442 includes the image processing software, for processing the image. Additionally, the software is capable of processing the image captured by theCCD chip440, to provide a quantitative analysis of the analyte contained on the analyte receiving portion of thetest strip421. Theprocessor442 can then transfer the data to thetransmitter portion446 of the cell phone, which itself includes software that permits the image and the quantitative analysis to be transmitted, if desired to a remote source, such as to another computer, another cell phone or to an appropriate storage device.
• Having described the above invention in reference to the presently perceived best mode of practicing the invention, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications exist that fall within the spirit of the invention.

Claims (24)

1. An analyte testing device for use with a mobile processing device having a camera with a lens, a processor for processing an image captured by the camera, the analyte testing device comprising

a casing,

a test strip positioner for positioning an analyte containing test strip in a position wherein the camera lens can capture an image of the analyte containing test strip;

a light source disposed within the casing, the light source being positioned within the casing to illuminate the analyte containing test strip to facilitate the capture of the image of the test strip; and

software contained within the mobile processing device for performing a quantitative analysis of at least one analyte from the captured image, and providing an output of the results of the quantitative analysis.

2. The analyte testing device ofclaim 1 wherein the mobile processing device comprises a mobile communications device.

3. The analyte testing device ofclaim 2 wherein the analyte containing test strip includes a first analyte receiving portion containing a first analyte comprising a first body fluid fraction that has undergone a first reaction, and a second analyte receiving portion containing a second analyte comprising a second body fluid fraction that has undergone a second reaction with a second reagent.

4. The analyte testing device ofclaim 2 further comprising transmission software loadable into the mobile communications device for transmitting at least one of the captured images and the quantitative analysis to a remote receiver.

5. The analyte testing device ofclaim 4 wherein the transmission software is capable of transmitting both the captured image and the output of the results of the quantitative analysis to the remote receiver.

6. The analyte testing device ofclaim 1 wherein the casing is capable of enclosing the camera lens and the light source to provide a controlled light environment within the casing.

7. The analyte testing device ofclaim 6 wherein the light source, test strip and camera lens are positionable to define a linear light path wherein the light source shines its light through the test strips and into the camera lens.

8. The analyte testing device ofclaim 6 wherein the light source, test strip and camera lens are positionable to define an angled light path wherein the lens captures an image of light emitted from the light source that is reflected off of a surface of the test strip.

9. The analyte testing device ofclaim 1 wherein the analyte containing test strip includes an analyte receiving portion upon which an analyte resides that comprises a body fluid that has undergone a separation and a reaction with a reagent, wherein the camera captures an image of the analyte receiving portion.

10. The analyte testing device ofclaim 9 wherein the analyte receiving portion includes a first analyte receiving portion containing a first analyte comprising a first body fluid fraction that has undergone a first reaction, and a second analyte receiving portion containing a second analyte comprising a second body fluid fraction that has undergone a second reaction with a second reagent.

11. The analyte testing device ofclaim 10, wherein the analyte receiving portion further includes a third analyte receiving portion containing a third analyte comprising a third body fluid fraction that has undergone a third reaction with a third reagent.

12. The analyte testing device ofclaim 11 wherein the first analyte comprises a body fluid and reagent useful for determining blood glucose levels, the second analyte comprises a body fluid and reagent useful for determining blood cholesterol levels, and the third analyte comprises a body fluid and reagent useful for determining blood lactate levels.

13. The analyte testing device ofclaim 1 wherein the casing includes a cavity for storing a plurality of test strips therein.

14. The analyte testing device ofclaim 1 wherein the casing is movably coupled to the mobile processing device to permit the lens of the camera to capture images without interference from the casing.

15. The analyte testing device ofclaim 14 wherein the casing is movable between a testing position wherein the camera lens is aligned with the test strip positioner to permit the camera to capture an image of the test strip; and a non-testing position wherein the camera lens can capture an image without interference from the casing, but during which time the casing remains coupled to the mobile communications device.

16. The analyte testing device ofclaim 15 wherein the casing includes a cavity for storing a plurality of test strips therein.

17. The analyte testing device ofclaim 1 wherein the casing is hingedly coupled to the mobile communications device and is movable between a testing position wherein the camera lens is aligned with the test strip positioner to permit the camera to capture an image of the test strip, and a non-testing position wherein the camera lens can capture an image without interference from the casing, but during which time the casing remains coupled to the mobile communications device.

18. The analyte testing device ofclaim 1 wherein the casing includes a cavity for storing a plurality of test strip therein, and wherein the test strip includes an analyte receiving portion upon which an analyte resides that includes a body fluid that has undergone a separate and a reaction with a reagent, wherein the camera captures an image of the analyte receiving portion.

19. The analyte testing device ofclaim 18 wherein the analyte receiving portion includes a first analyte receiving portion containing a first body fluid fraction that has undergone a separation and a reaction with a first reagent, and a second analyte receiving portion that has undergone a separation and a reaction with a second reagent, wherein the camera captures an image of the first and second analyte receiving portions; and wherein the software contained within the mobile processing device performs a quantitative analysis of each of the first and second separated and reacted body fluid fractions.

20. The analyte testing device ofclaim 1 wherein the casing is formed as a part of the mobile processing device.

21. The analyte testing device ofclaim 1 wherein the camera lens is coupled to the casing, further comprising a data output connector for coupling the camera lens to a part of the mobile processing device for transferring data from the camera lens to the mobile processing device.

22. The analyte testing device ofclaim 20 wherein the casing includes a phone receiving portion for permitting the casing to be detachably coupled to the mobile processing device.

23. The analyte testing device ofclaim 1 wherein the test positioner positions the test strip in a position out of the optical path of the lens, and wherein the casing includes an optical path diverter between the lens and the test strip for permitting the camera to capture an image of the analyte containing test strip.

24. The analyte testing device ofclaim 1 wherein the optical path diverter comprises at least one mirror for reflecting an image of the analyte containing test strip into the lens.

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